The Ministry of Finance and Planning has already started preparing major phases of Budget 2007.

The budget has focused on a 10-year-long term development plan on retinal development including infrastructure development by uplifting livelihoods. The budget is expected to be presented to Parliament this November.

Director of Budget of the Ministry Mahinda Saliya told the Daily News that consultation meetings with Government owned revenue earning agencies such as Inland Revenue, Customs, Immigration and Emigration, Excise and RMV are being held to estimate revenue while Ministers and Government organisations are conducting discussions with the Ministry to estimate expenditure for next year. "This year all views and proposals are specially given attention for the productive use of Government funds and new sources of Government revenue," he said.

"We are involved in preparing the medium term framework for 2007 conducting discussions while the draft of this framework will be presented to Parliament next week."

Saliya said the budget would give priority for the continuation of present development programmes in an efficient way. He said the Ministry has called for public proposals and views for the preparation of budget.

He said that religious leaders, scholars, professionals and professional associations, trade union members and leaders, experienced public servants and pensioners, private sector employees, trade chambers, political parties and public representatives and civil society interest groups are invited to submit views and proposals for the 2007 budget. He said that proposals should be submitted before October 10 to the Finance Ministry by post, fax or email.